March 7, 2003
In the first games without Miami's dominant senior class from the fall season, the women's soccer team proved they are not without talent in Memphis, Tenn. last weekend in its first four soccer games of the spring season. In their four games, the RedHawks defeated the University of Arkansas, tied the University of Illinois and the University of Alabama-Birmingham and fell to a club team called the GSE Cardinals.
Freshman Katie Ng (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West) scored the game-winner over Arkansas off a cross from sophomore Ashley Swinehart (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington) only one minute into the second half on Saturday morning in Miami's first game. Freshman Leigh Terry (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) recorded two saves to earn the shutout for the RedHawks.
"I was pleased with how our kids played, especially since we've had very little practice time this spring," said head coach Bobby Kramig. "Arkansas is a very well organized team and this game provided for an entertaining match to watch."
During the second game on Saturday versus the GSE Cardinals, sophomore Tara Eby (West Alexandria, Ohio/Valley View) scored off an assist from Ng and junior Megan Shapiro (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Point South) in an evenly matched game despite muddy playing conditions. Junior Emily Smith (Louisville, Ky./Male) allowed both Cardinal goals in the tough playing conditions.
"This was a good opportunity for us to experiment with our line-up and formation," said Kramig. "We did not play particularly well in the first half, but I was very happy with the way our kids adjusted in the second half."
The road did not get any easier for Miami when they played Illinois to a 1-1 tie in the early afternoon on Sunday. Shapiro scored Miami's lone goal off a Swinehart shot that the Illinois goalkeeper could not control. Terry took her ledger to 1-0-1 during the spring season.
"It was a fun game to be apart of," said Kramig. "A great game in which both teams should be congratulated on their efforts. With each team having chances to win in the final minutes, I thought a 1-1 tie was a fair result."
In Miami's final game in Memphis, it recorded its second 1-1 tie of the day off an unassisted goal by Swinehart. Swinehart chipped the Illinois goalkeeper from 25 yards out. The game was a tale of two halves, with one half of the field in very poor condition and the other half dry and firm. Both teams struggled to play out of the muddy and soggy conditions.
"UAB is an excellent team with great talent," said Kramig. "Being down 0-1 at halftime presented a tough challenge for our kids, but we buckled down and played better in the second half in order to come away with the draw."
The RedHawks next spring game will be at Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. on April 6 at 10:00 a.m. On April 7, Miami will face Northwestern at 1:00 p.m. in West Lafayette.
|
|
 |
|
|
||
| MuRedHawks.com WEB | ||
